Hollywood has lost one of its most iconic stars. Robert Redford, the actor, director, and founder of the Sundance Institute, has died at the age of 89.
In a statement, Cindi Berger, chief executive of publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, shared the news:
“Robert Redford passed away on September 16, 2025, at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah, the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved. He will be missed greatly. The family requests privacy.”
Born in 1936, Redford studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before making his way to Broadway in productions like Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park.
His leap to the big screen came with George Roy Hill’s groundbreaking Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, where he teamed up with Paul Newman and helped define a new era of Hollywood. The is such a great movie!
From there, Redford became a fixture of American cinema, delivering unforgettable performances in All the President’s Men, The Sting, Three Days of the Condor, The Great Gatsby, and Sydney Pollack’s Out of Africa.
For me personally, the Redford film that left the deepest impression was The Natural in 1984. I remember watching it as a kid, completely mesmerized by its mythic storytelling and the way Redford carried that role with quiet strength and magic. It was one of those films that sparked my imagination and wonder, and it remains a movie I revisit often.
Redford wasn’t just a star in front of the camera, he proved himself behind it too. His directorial debut, Ordinary People in 1980, won four Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Picture. He followed it with The Milagro Beanfield War in 1988, which went on to win the Oscar for Best Score.
His vision extended beyond Hollywood. In 1981, Redford founded the Sundance Institute on his land in Utah, creating a space for independent voices to thrive.
The Sundance Film Festival soon grew into one of the most influential events in cinema, championing filmmakers like Steven Soderbergh, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Kevin Smith. Countless careers were launched because of Redford’s dedication to nurturing independent film.
Redford continued acting through the decades with projects like Spy Game, A Walk in the Woods, and The Old Man & the Gun, which he announced would be his final acting role in 2018.
Fans were delighted when he made a surprise cameo in Avengers: Endgame, reminding audiences of his enduring presence on screen. By 2019, he had officially stepped away from Sundance, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped the landscape of American cinema.
Over his six-decade career, Redford was celebrated with numerous honors, including three Golden Globes, an Oscar for Best Director, an Honorary Academy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, and the César Honorary Award in Paris.
In 2016, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama, who praised him for captivating audiences while exploring “vital social, political, and historical themes.” Obama went on to say: “His art and activism continue to shape our Nation’s cultural heritage, inspiring millions to laugh, cry, think, and change.”
Robert Redford was more than just a movie star. He was a trailblazer, a storyteller, and a champion of artists who might have otherwise never found a stage. His influence will live on in the films he made, the filmmakers he inspired, and the audiences who continue to be moved by his work.